Jig vise



Jan. 14, 1947. w. woERNER JIG-VISE Filed Jan. 50,1945 2 sheets-sheen l Il l FIG.4.

INVENTOR a GUM BY 54, 6171K M ATTQRNEY Jan, 14, 1947.

W. WOERNER JIG-VISE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. so, 1945 mvEN'roRPatented `ian. 14, `19411 JIG VISEj William Woerner, GreenbrookTownship, Middlesex County, N. J.

Application January 30, 1945, SeriaLNQ 575,217.

The present invention relates to combined work-holding andAtool-locating fixtures and is concerned more particularly withimprovements in devices of the characterin which the same element thatengages and clamps the work is also the element that accurately locatesand guides the. tool. The aim of the invention is to provide afixturejthat will enable the worker to insert and remove workpieces withgreater 'ease and dispatchthan has been possibleA heretofore and withoutsacrifice to rigidityor accuracy in the work-clamping and tool-locatingfunctions of the fixture;

The aim of the present invention is to renderavailable a jig-vise whichis arranged for toploading and" adapted for use in restricted areaswherein the hinge-likemovement of the upper jawelement of theu priordesigns` can not be-employedj because ofl interference with Vtheworkpieces'orwith parts* of the machine on which thejig-vise is used.

A further aim of thel present invention is to `provide a` compact,easily manipuated, and sturdily constructed jig-vise suitedY for use'inconfined regions and a jig-vise `constructed of relatively fewpartseasyl to manufacture and assemble.

In carrying out the objectivesof the invention it is proposed toconstruct` the base plate member ofa jig-visewith a substantiallyreinforced rear wall rising therefrom, and to support therein theoperating mechanism, bushingplate mounting plunger, and guide bearingsfor the cooperating jaw of the vise. The mounting plungeris constructedpreferably in two parts, one being a reciprocable sleeve and the otherbeng a'coaxial spindle rotatively j-ournaled in the sleeve. To the upperend of the spindle is mounted the coacting combined bushing plate andupper jaw element of the jig-vise, which, by Virtue of the spindlesrotative mounting in the sleeve, may be rotated about the sleeve axis tobring the overhanging portion of the jaw into or out of cooperatingrelation with the lower jaw member. In this embodiment of the invention,the mounting plunger on and about which the combined jaw and bushingplate swings is proportioned in size as to maintain the working plane ofthe jaw in parallelism with the plane of the base plate in all spacedand laterally swung positions of the movable jaw. The movement of thejaw selectively ina clamping and unclarnping direction is effected, inthis instance by a lever operated pinion that engages rack teeth cutinto the reciprocable sleeve. Other forms of 8 Claims. (Cl. 737-262)actuating means,` for example, screwA and nut, cam or eccentric, etc.,may be employedY if desired.

Easy relocating of the upper jaw in a definite angular position relativeto the base element and worklocating devicesthat may be mounted-there,-on, is attained in accordance with this invention, by means4 of one ormore pilotV bars and complementa-l bush-ing elements positioned onaxesparallel tothe axis of swing of the jaw element but offset therefrom. QnmovementY ofA the jaw to aAwork-unclamped' DOSition, the pilot` bars andcomplemental bushingsautomaticallydisengage, thus freeing the jawforlateral swinging movement about the axis of the mounting plunger. Afterthe workpiece is removed and a new blank inserted, the jawV is againm-oved laterally into position over the work and precision centeringthereof obtained-bymeans of the pilot baror bars.

A` jig-vise so constructed has the avantages ofstrength and accuracy,`by reason ofV its simplified construction and relation of itscooperating elements,which, together with the important feature of`compactness in height, affords a workman with a serviceable andpractical production vise capable of top-loading and of" expeditious usein restricted areas.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparentV therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend theunderlying, features hereof that they may embody the same in the variousways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferredtypical construction have been annexed as-a part of this disclosure and,in such drawings,` like characters of reference denote correspondingparts throughout all the views,` of which- Figure l isa front elevationof a jig-vise embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2` Vof the drawings is a side view, shown partly in sectionsubstantially along lines l-I and 2-2 of Fig..3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a jig-vise embodying this invention.

li'ig.` 4 is a side viewof a jig-vise of this invention adapted forsuccessive tooling operations.

ReferringV more particularly to FigrZ of the drawings, the jig-viseillustrated comprises a base member Ill having a finished upper surfacell upon which a supplemental Work locating fix-ture, Wj, shown by thedotted lines is mounted. To

under surface I9 finished parallel with the platform I I of the base soas accurately to engage and clamp on the workpieces. One or more toollocating apertures, such as bushing 20, are provided in the bushingplate, as the needs of the work may require. y

The bushing plate extends to the rear of the surface I4 and is lboredcentrally as at 2| to receive the upper end of a Yspindle 22 that formsan element of the mounting plunger. Lock nuts 23 are provided to A,clampVthe elements together. The spindle 22 extends downwardly and isrotatively journaled in a shiftable but non-rotatable sleeve member 24that is slidingly tted in a relatively long bearing 25 in the Wall I3.Anti-friction thrust bearings 26 and 2l located at the ends of thesleeve 24 and between the bushing plate I8 and the opposite end 22a ofthe spindle 22 serve to center and guide the spindle and also tomaintain the plane of the extending jaw element I8 perpendicular to theaxis of the mounting plunger 22, 24. The lower race of the lower bearing21 is herein illustrated as being in the head of a screw 28.

The sleeve 24 is provided with rack teeth 30 that are constantly meshedby the teeth of a rack pinion 3l. Because of the normally meshedrelation of the rack teeth 30 with the teeth of the pinion 3|, thesleeve 24 is constrained against rotation in the bore 25 of the lbasemember. The pinion 3| Vis pinned or otherwise nonrot'atively secured toan operating shaft 32 which has' an operating handle 33 adjustablyfastened thereto. The manner of securing the handle 33 to the shaft 32Amay lbe effected in various ways, andra preferred constructioncomprises the forming of radially extending serrations 34 on one faceofr the handle hub .35, adapted to intert and lock with complementalradial serrations 33 formed Y 4 Y 4I and 42. Each bushing (4I-42) has anelongated opening 43 formed therein whose front Wall 44 parallels thepitch line of the rack teeth 30, and whose rear wall 45 slants forwardin an upward direction. 'Ihe Fig. 2 illustration exaggerates theconditions, for purposes of this explanation, and it will be understoodthat the relations are such that a counterclockwise turning of thepinion shaft, propels the upper jaw downwardly until resistance isencountered thereby. Further turning of the pinion shaft when resistanceis encountered, causes the pinion to I climb the rack, and this verticalmovement of the shaft brings the bushings 31 into binding relation withthe narrower portions of the slots 43 fin the bushings 4I and 42. Whenthe handle is released, the forces tending to lift the bushing platetend to effect counter turning of the pinion shaft and increase thebinding action, and actual unclamping is prevented.

The workpiece vis readily unclamped, however, by operating the handle in-a clockwise direction, for, when so actuated the fulcrum point shiftsfrom the line of contact of the bushings 31- with the tapered wall 45tothe pitch linek of the rack teeth, and the bushings and pinion. shaftare rocked downwardly into wider portions of the ta-z pered slots, thuspermitting free rotation Aof the pinion shaft and upward movement of theupper: jaw element. The foregoing; is but representaclamping mechanism.Other forms, such as screw and nut, Worin and Worm Wheel, eccentricprcam arrangements may, of course, be'employed, if desired.v l

At least at one side, land -preferably at Yopposite sides of the centralmounting plunger- 22, 24, 'bushing plate centering and guiding. studs 53and 5I are provided. Eachustud hask a press t or is otherwise secured inaligned bores 52 and 53 in the base membergand projects up wardlytherefrom sufficiently to be engaged, for

a substantial distance, by bushing members 5 4 clamping position. Whenthe `upper jaw isV raised on an end face of one of the bushing elements31. The bushings 3'I are non-rotatively secured to the shaft 32, asby'sweating, shrinking, or cross pinning, and are further constrainedagainst movement by means of spacer sleeves 38.

With this form of handle mounting, the positionA and swing of thehandle'may be adjusted Vfor convenient operation with due regard to theheight of the work to be clamped. End washers 39 and clamp screws 40 areprovided to seal the interior against entrance of chip and foreignparticles and to clamp the assembly together, suicient clearance spacebeing provided between the inner face 34 of the handle hub 35 and theouter face of the bushing 42 to allow for free turning of the handle andparts associated therewith.

A rocking of the handle 33 will, through the mechanism explained, effecta raising or lowering of the upper jaw element I8, andfso that `thelatter will maintain its clamped position against a workpiece, when thehandle is released, the entire rack pinion shaft assembly is arranged tohave a slight fioatingrmovement in a vertical to the position whereatthe guide bushings 54and 55 are lifted from the guide studs 50 and5|,the combined bushing plate and vise` jaw memberV I8 may then beshifted laterally about the mounting plunger 22, 24 as an axis, therebycompletely to expose the work and to permit removal theretoolingoperations, and the overhead -room required within which to operate thedevice, is re-Y duced to minimum proportions. The dotted lines`^illustrated in Fig.V 3, represent the combined' bushing-plate andvise-jaw element I8, in an out-V oftheway position.

After loading the fixturev nwith another.werke piece the bushing-plateis again revolved to workingl position; and so that the working,positionA may be, quickly determined at least one of the. guidebushings'(54) is formed Vwith a'depending portion 54a that extends around therear'onehalf of its lower'periphery and serves as (an abutment for thestud 50; guide studs are beveled slightly to facilitate their re-entryinto the bushings asthe jaw` is moved toward work-clamping position."

Where the nature of the work requires,` the up# per jaw element I8 maybeextended further/co. @weer .andlcarryirs ,the rear. extension; 18a. an:

The upper ends ofthe S 'other' bushing l2lb@ or set of bushings:approprie atelysizedand located-'fora succeeding operationontliefsamefor a different workpiece.. Figi 4.illustratessuchfr'aconstruction. The width of.` bushing plate, inthe duplex orturret type of jig:- vise just mentioned, is preferably such: astopermit convenienttop-loading, when swung about the posti` axis 909.Drilling and; reaming: opera.- tionsV may, for example, be performedin`rapid successionion fa given workpiece by.` unclamping and' indexing theduplex i clamping bushing plate through- 180 andreclamping the pilotbarsreentering` opposite socketsj In other. respects the de:- vice ofFig. 41is-similarin construction and operation to the structures herein above;referred to;

It will be seenV that in either constructional form lthe guide studs and5l in addition to their function of locating the bushing platerepeatedly in a precise location, also serve as supplementary means formaintaining the plane of the work engaging surface I9 of the movable jawparallel with the platform surface ll or to the work mounted thereupon.Thus the tool is precision located laterally, and its vertical alignmentassured by reason of the substantial bearing provided at the mountingplunger and at the guide bushings 54 and 55, the former :beingrelatively low, and the two latter relatively high.

That is, by the construction disclosed, the Inovable jaw carries anextension 22, 2li that is guided slidingly in the base, and the base isprovided with extensions (5B-5l) that slidingly guides and supports themovable jaw, and this double and spaced apart guide means effectivelymaintain the movable jaw, and hence the tool locating bushing orbushings therein, in proper pre-l cision relation in all normaloperating positions.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and areintended to be,` comprehended within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. A jig-vise comprising a base member having a work supportingplatform, a non-rotatable sleeve slidably mounted in said base offsetfrom said platform, a combinedy jaw and bushing-plate member rotativelymounted on said sleeve with its tool locating portion normally extendingover said platform, means for actuating said sleeve to effect a workclamping operation, and means operative during movement of the sleevefor restraining said bushing platemember against rotation relative tosaid sleeve and base members.

2. A jig-vise combining a base member having a forward portion affordinga work receiving platfform and a thickened rear portion affording anabutment surface normal to said platform, a

sleeve member projecting from said thickened and'. a spindle element.;connected` with saidY plate andextending through` the sleeve forjournaling the sleeve and plate together, and platecenteringr` and guidemeans-1 provided in part bysaid platevand in part by saidthickenedportion` of the base vfor guiding saidlplate` inparallelism with said'platform and for constraining said-V plate against `rotative movementrelative to said' sleeve during a` movement of saidl plateto a workclamped position.

3. A` device of the character disclosed combiningafbas'e member having1a flat surface adapted to function as a clampingjaw member: asecondclamping jaw and'toolguide` member positioned normally opposite and'movable relatively'thereto; means mounting oney of said members formovement electively toward and away from the other including atranslatable but non-rotatable member slidably mounted in the said basemember and a connection rotatably securing said second clamping jawelement to said non-rotatable member; means to actuate saidnon-rotatable member and parts carried thereby to effect a work clampingand tool locating operation simultaneously; and means engageable withsaid iaw and guide member for constraining said jaw and guide memberagainst rotation as it approaches work clamping position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said mounting meansembodies antifriction bearing means in said connection between saidnon-rotatable member and the member.

5. A device of the character disclosed combining a base member having awork platform, an elongated clamping jaw and tool guide memberpositioned normally opposite and movable relatively thereto; meansmounting one of said members for movement electively toward and awayfrom the other comprising a translatable but nonrotatable member, andmeans rotatively securing the said elongated member at a medial regionto said translatable member, means to actuate said translatable memberto effect simultaneous work clamping and tool locating, and meanseffective during the clamping movement to precision center and maintainone end ofsaid elongated jaw member in an extending over and cooperativerelation with said work platform.

6. A jig-vise comprising a lower jaw member and a relatively rotatabletwo-ended cooperating upper jaw member, means offset from the workengaging areas of said jaw members for actuating and guiding one of saidmembers toward and away from the other selectively to effect workclamping and work unclamping operations, means operative when one of theends of the upper jaw member is in work clamping position to constrainsaid member against rotation relative'to the lower jaw, said means beingoperative when the members are in work unclamped position to render theupper member movable about an axis normal to the plane of its workengaging area electively through a distance approximately degrees fromnormal to permit vertical loading and unloading of the workpiece on thework area of said lower jaw member, or through approximately degrees tobring an opposite end portion of the upper jaw member into workingrelation with the lower jaw member.

7. A jig-vise comprising a lower jaw member and a cooperating upper jawmember, a supporting plunger for said upper jaw member, means rotatablymounting said uper jaw member to said plunger, means offset from thework engaging areas of said members for actuating one of said memberstoward and away from the other selec- -tively to effect work clampingand work unclamping operations; guide means operative when the membersare in Work clamped position to cone sleeve so as toextend over saidWork receiving platform, means comprising 'antifrction bearing means ateach end of said sleeve and a spindle element connected with the bushingplatel and extending through the sleeve for journaling the sleeve andplate rotatively together, plate cenl tering and guide means carried bysaid base and engageable with complementary means carried by said platefor guiding said plate in parallelism with said platform and forconstraining said plate against' rotative movement relative to said-baseduring a movement of said plate in a Work clampingdirection, andmanually operable means opf eratively connected with said sleeve formoving the sleeve axially.'

WILLIAM WOERNER.

